Ecatepec de Morelos
Ecatepec (Spanish: [ekateˈpek] ⓘ), officially Ecatepec de Morelos, is a municipality in the central Mexican state of Mexico, and is situated in the north part of the greater Mexico City urban area. The municipal seat is San Cristóbal Ecatepec.
Ecatepec de Morelos
Ecatepec | |
|---|---|
City & Municipality | |
House of Morelos Museum | |
|
Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): Autonomía, Unión, Trabajo (Autonomy, Union, Work) | |
Location of Ecatepec in the State of Mexico | |
| Coordinates: 19°36′35″N 99°03′36″W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | State of Mexico |
| Metro area | Greater Mexico City |
| Municipal Status | October 13, 1877 |
| Municipal Seat | San Cristóbal Ecatepec |
| Government | |
| • Type | Ayuntamiento |
| • Mayor | Fernando Vilchis Contreras (2019-2021) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 156.2 km2 (60.3 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.00 km2 (0.00 sq mi) |
| Elevation (of seat) | 2,250 m (7,380 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 1,645,352 |
| • Rank | 9th in North America 3rd in Mexico |
| • Density | 10,533.6/km2 (27,282/sq mi) |
| • Seat | 1,643,623 |
| • Metro area | 21,804,515 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| Postal code (of seat) | 55000 |
| Area code | 55 |
| Demonym | Ecatepequense |
| Website | Official website (in Spanish) |
The city of Ecatepec is practically co-extensive with the municipality, comprising 99% of the total municipal population of 1,645,352. It is Mexico's third most-populous municipality after Tijuana and the 16 boroughs of Mexico City. It is also the most populated suburb of Greater Mexico City.
The name "Ecatepec" is derived from Nahuatl, and means "windy hill" or "hill devoted to Ehecatl (the wind god)." It was also an alternative name or invocation to the god Quetzalcoatl. "Morelos" is the last name of José María Morelos, a hero of the Mexican War of Independence. Saint Christopher is the city's patron saint, celebrated on July 25.
Ecatepec is served by the Mexico City metro, by the State of Mexico's Mexibús bus rapid transit lines, and by Mexicable aerial cable car lines.
Points of interest include the newest Catholic cathedral in Mexico, Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, several colonial era churches, and the Morelos Museum in "Casa de los Virreyes". Mexico's busiest shopping center, Multiplaza Aragón, is also located in Ecatepec.